Articles by David Morley

Carving a slice out of the fleet market and hanging on to it is a constant battle for ute makers. Throw in ever-tougher emissions and fuel consumption targets and the threat of new Chinese rivals, and it's a cut-throat world. But Mazda knows that a trimmed price-tag is the way to woo fleet managers, even if you have to give up a few things in the process. Enter the revised BT-50 XS.

Sitting at the top of the Terramar line-up is the $73,490 (drive-away) VZ version.

The mid-range Terramar V is the first variant of the range to gain an on-demand all-wheel drive system. In normal driving, the Cupra will behave as a front-drive car but when acceleration or grip demands some of the torque will be send to the rear wheels. This is a great option in a family-oriented five-seat SUV like the Terramar.

The new Cupra Terramar range kicks off with the S variant of the five-seat, mid-sized SUV, which is priced at $58,490, drive-away.

The Cupra brand might be a relative newcomer, but its Terramar mid-sized family SUV proves that coming from a good family (in this case VW/Audi) isn't just a bonus for social climbers. By tapping into some classy tech and adding a splash of its own pizzazz, Cupra has aimed the Terramar at the family that enjoys the journey at least as much as the destination. But can it stand out in the crowd?

Cupra is clearly feeling a bit bullish, having delivered 9000 cars in Australia since the brand’s launch just three years ago.And confidence is high that the 10,000th Cupra will be delivered here before the end of 2025.Cupra execs recently revealed a bit of forward product information, and it's good news for petrol-heads.Cupra’s sales manager for international markets, Erdem Kizildere, told Carsguide: “We will continue to offer ICE for as long as the European Union allows it.”“ICE is the driver’s friend,” he added, “We must offer ICE for as long as we can. The petrol-heads have spoken.”Head of Cupra product in Australia, Jeff Shafer, confirmed that view, even admitting that plug-in hybrids might still be finding their way in this country.“PHEV might be a bit of a slow burn. It’s becoming a better understood part of the Australian market. Sometimes the market needs to define itself,” he said.That starts with the new Cupra Leon which will be on sale in October this year.The range will start with the S model with 110kW which suggests the new-gen 1.5-litre turbo-motor with 250Nm of torque as well.There’ll also be a VZX version of the Leon with 245kW of power for what should be epic performance and a Sports-tourer variant with a fairly conventional station-wagon layout (hooray) in VZE (a new trim level) boasting a plug-in hybrid driveline with 200kW at its disposal.The first quarter of next year will also see a flood of new Cupra models, including an all-new Leon hatchback model in VE trim and a 150kW plug-in driveline.The Born EV model is set to make a return to Aussie showrooms early next year, too.This news comes at a time when Cupra – along with the rest of the car-making world – appears to be walking back the timeline for an all-electric future.While rumours have been floating around that the new Terramar might just be the last conventionally powered Cupra, management now seems to be pouring cold water on those.

The two-step LDV Terron 9 range is capped off by the $58,937 Evolve version. This specification adds 20-inch wheels and tyres, a locking front differential, a better stereo, massage front seats and a heated rear seat.Power comes form the same 2.5-litre turbo-diesel as the entry-level version, with 163kW of power and 520Nm of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission is the only fitment, and the Evolve continues with four-wheel drive with a low-ratio transfer-case.Claimed fuel economy is 7.9 litres per 100km (combined) but our real-world drive netted a number much closer to 9.0L. Even so, with the 80-litre fuel tank, range should be an easy 850km or more.Safety is covered off by the latest driver-assistance aids including AEB and lane-keeping assistance, but some of the calibration is too aggressive in our opinion.The cabin is a five-seater but, because of the way the vehicle is engineered, there's no cab-chassis option available.LDV offers is seven-year/200,000km warranty for the Terron 9, with service intervals at 12 months or 15,000km, with the exception of the first service at 10,000km.

The entry point for the all-new LDV Terron 9 is the Origin variant which aims to keep costs down with the fitment of cloth trim and a few omissions from the equipment list. Even so, with 18-inch alloys, large dual-info screens, full connectivity, paddle-shifter and a 360-degree camera system, the $53,674 is more than the much older LDV T60, but still relevant.Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with 163kW and 520NM, and that's linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with low ratios for off-road work.LDV claims a combined fuel economy figure of 7.9 litres per 100km, and there's an 80-litre fuel tank for decent range.The cabin seats five but is a little larger than most dual-cabs (as is the cargo area) thanks to the overall larger external dimensions and an interesting design that makes the body side one-piece. The flip-side is that this means there's no cab-chassis variant.Safety is taken care of by driver aids including AEB, lane-departure warning, lane keeping assistance and a front and rear parking sensors.The Terron 9's warranty is a handy seven years/200,000km and servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, apart from the very first service which is scheduled for 10,000km.

Need a dual-cab ute? You’re in luck. Not only does Australia have access to a huge variety of makes and models in the dual-cab space, there is also a huge range of prices and equipment levels.

Q: How to dispose of engine oil?A: Changing your car’s engine oil at home is a great way to save a few dollars, develop a little knowledge of how things work as well as establishing a closer relationship with your car. The latter might sound a bit corny, but 'knowing' your car means you’ll get more from it, even if that’s as simple as the dollars you save each time it needs an oil change.Beyond the actual method of changing a car’s engine oil, the big question is what the heck you do with the four or five litres of used oil that is drained from the engine and replaced. Knowing how to dispose of car oil is something you need to figure out before you reach for the jack stands and spanners and dump the old oil into a drain pan.In the days before environmental awareness, this was not such an issue. And while it would make the average Gen-Zer cringe, the conventional wisdom was to pour the used oil along the fence-line of your backyard paling fence.This had three results. It stopped the weeds growing along the fence-line, it stopped the timber palings form rotting or being eaten by termites, and it got rid of the old oil. I’m not making this up.In rural areas, many farmers would change the engine oil in the family car with the old oil finding its way into the tractor or farm truck as a means of giving the used oil a second life. Then it would often find its way along the fence-line. Obviously, in Australia in 2025, this form of engine oil disposal is going to get you in big trouble.These days, of course, our greater respect for the environment means you simply can’t perform such acts of enviro-terrorism and there are some pretty hefty penalties if you were to try it.The same goes for tipping oil down a drain or gully trap. It’s just not a thing any more. Don’t forget, used engine oil can be quite acidic or contaminated in other ways, so it can be a pretty harmful commodity by the time it’s been in your engine for 10,000km. So what is the solution for getting rid of used engine oil?The simple answer is that you have to dispose of the stuff in a way that ensures it can’t find its way into waterways or into the soil, or anywhere else where it could harm flora, fauna or contaminate anything. Fundamentally, that’s pretty limiting (in a good way) but even so, there are choices to be made.Choice number one is to take the car to a workshop where the mechanic will have a bulk waste oil drum that is taken away and recycled back into useable oil. In fact, recycling old engine oil is the best outcome, because it means it gets several more chances at life and, as a finite – and expensive – resource, that’s got to be a good thing.But if you still want to change your own oil at home, you can sometimes talk to your local mechanic who may allow you to dump your oil in his or her bulk drum. Obviously, not every workshop is going to be happy with that arrangement, but if you have a relationship with the workshop and it has a deal where it gets paid for used oil to recycle, you might get the green light. Just don’t abuse the privilege by dumping all your mates’ used oil at the same time.Local councils and waste transfer stations (formerly known as the local tip) will often have recycling programs, too. You need to carefully pour the old oil into a clean plastic container and present that at the tip at the appropriate station where you will be charged a fee per litre (some councils will take it for free) for the waste oil you want to get rid of.Sometimes, you’ll need to pour the oil into a bulk drum by yourself, and you may also be able to leave oily rags at the same place. But check first. The same goes for the used oil filter. This is also contaminated with the same oil (and the metal casing can be recycled, too) and needs to be disposed of professionally, not just placed in a plastic bag and put out on bin night.Aside from your local council, there are commercial oil collection and recycling depots that will take your old oil and recycle it. Some will charge for this service, while others will take the oil for free because it’s a valuable commodity. If you have your phone handy, you can also search for “used engine oil disposal near me”.Don’t forget the auto parts store from which you purchased the new oil for your oil change. Many of these offer a collection service where you simply leave your old oil in clean containers and the shop will take care of it at no cost. But check first, and make sure you follow the rules for collection.As well as the obvious engine oil recycling (to be used again in an engine) your old oil may have a very interesting life beyond the engine in your car.Some used oil is turned into different grades of lubricating oil, some is refined into diesel fuel, while other batches can be used in commercial boilers and even burned to create industrial heating.It’s reckoned that just eight litres of waste engine oil could power the average household for a full 24 hours, so tipping it along a fence is not only environmental vandalism, it’s also super wasteful.